KANSAS ST: Last season: 21-14, lost in first round of NCAA Tournament
Who's gone: G Carlbe Ervin II, F Isaiah Maurice, F Wesley Iwundu, F Austin Budke, F D.J. Johnson
Who's back: G Kamau Stokes averaged 11.7 points and a team-leading 4.1 assists last season; G Barry Brown averaged 11.7 points and 3.2 rebounds; F Dean Wade averaged 9.3 points and shot 50 percent from the field, and will be asked to give the Wildcats more of a post presence this season; Xavier Sneed averaged 7.1 points as a freshman and will be heavily counted upon this season.
Who's new: F Mawdo Sallah is a 6-8 graduate transfer from Mount St. Mary's who is eligible immediately; F Makol Mawie is a 6-9 sophomore who transferred from New Mexico Junior College; G Amaad Wainright transferred from Trinity Valley Community College; Nigel Shadd and Levi Stockard are touted 6-8 prep forwards; G Mike McGuirl is a top-100 guard prospect from Connecticut.
The Skinny: Kansas State squeaked into the NCAA Tournament last season despite going 8-10 in league play. Most of its core returns intact, though a lack of size that plagued the Wildcats last season still exists. Big 12 coaches picked them to finish eighth, but there is a feeling that they could finish in the top half of the league.

BAYLOR: Last season: 27-8, NCAA Sweet 16.
Who's gone: F Johnathan Motley, the team's top scorer and rebounder (17.3 points, 9.9 rebounds per game), G Al Freeman, G Ishmail Wainright.
Who's back: PG Manu Lecomte is the top returning scorer at 12.2 points with 3.8 assists a game. The former Miami transfer from Belgium was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year last season; 7-foot F Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. (9.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.5 blocks per game), a sixth-year senior; F Terry Maston, who scored 19 points in each of Baylor's first two NCAA Tournament games; G King McClure, a 3-point shooting threat; G Jake Lindsey; and F Nuni Omot.
Who's new: F Tristan Clark, a Class 6A player of the year after his senior year at San Antonio's Wagner High; G Tyson Jolly sat out last year after originally signing with California, but got his release after a coaching change; high-flying freshman F Mark Vital; 7-foot F Leonard Allen.
The Skinny: With three key starters back from a Sweet 16 team, including the point guard and the big man who keeps improving, Drew has a team that should be in the upper half of the Big 12 again. And that should be good enough for their eighth NCAA bid in 11 years.